WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – On the second day of the Bear Creek Classic, Taylor's offense exploded for 19 runs in the doubleheader, securing two wins in impressive fashion.
The Trojans earned a 9-8 win over Rio Grande to start the day before pouring in tens run in a 10-4 victory over RV Campbellsville to finish the Bear Creek Classic 3-1.
Kaylee Larkin continued to tear the cover off the ball, belting six hits including four extra-base hits, and driving in six runs on the day. Livie Lehmann finally found some success at the plate with five hits, a double, and her first home run of the season to more than double her season totals in hits and extra-base knocks.
Taylor was able to begin the day by holding on to get a win in a tense finish against Rio Grande. After racing out to a commanding 9-3 lead the Red Storm slowly worked their way back into the game and threatened to complete the comeback in the final inning.
The lead was cut to two in the final frame before Mackenzie Noah trotted out into the circle. After another run crossed the plate, Rio Grande (6-2) loaded the base with only one out. Noah calmly collected herself and showed her big game presence by striking out a batter and inducing a weak line drive to third to end the game for a Trojans victory.
TU was able to create the early advantage with an outpouring in the first two innings to the tune of eight runs. Larkin spearheaded the early onslaught, tallying a single, double, and home run in the first three innings and four RBI, while Emri Agre scored twice and ripped a triple to left.
The TU bats stayed hot in game two, scoring ten runs to run away with a second victory over RV Campbellsville, this time by a score of 10-4.
Three consecutive hits starting with a double from Aleyah Rastetter got the Trojans on the board in the first, with Larkin driving in her fifth RBI of the day.
Lehmann blasted her home run to dead center to double the lead in the bottom of the third before a two-out sharp ground ball forced an error that led to two more runs to push the lead to 4-0.
The Tigers responded with three runs of their own in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit to one before two ground outs left runners stranded in scoring position, which allowed Taylor to keep the slimmest of leads.
The Trojans' top of the order continued to tear it up, with Lehmann and Larkin lashing doubles to plate a pair of runs before TU scored two more later in the inning.
Campbellsville (6-3) scored a run in the top of the fifth, but Taylor answered with two more in the bottom of the inning to finish the scoring as Noah fired another complete game for the victory.
After finishing the weekend at 3-1, the Trojans will turn their attention to a doubleheader scheduled against RV IU Southeast (1-4) on Saturday, March 1, with first pitch set for 1:00 pm in New Albany, Indiana.
